He said: "Once you break the breeding cycle, you break a transmission cycle.

"When you kill the bug, you kill dengue as well."

DENGUE DEATHS IN 2016

Seven people have died of dengue this year. Five of them lived in active dengue hot spots.

1. Male, 79

Died: Aug 4

He lived in Eastwood Drive, which is an active cluster, with nine cases in the past two weeks. He was admitted to Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital on July 30 and died on Thursday.

2. Female, 72

Died: June 25

She lived in Simei Street 1, which was a two-case dengue cluster. She spent three days in Changi General Hospital (CGH) before dying from dengue.

3. Male, 79

Died: May 29

He lived in Jalan Tenaga in Eunos. The area was an active dengue cluster and had six cases of dengue.

4. Female, 73

Died: March 24

She lived in Poh Huat Road West, which is near Kovan MRT station. At that time, Kovan was an active four-case dengue cluster. She was admitted to Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) on March 22 and died two days later.

5. Female, 63

Died: March 10

She was living in Bedok North Street 3, which was not an active dengue cluster.

6. Male, 67

Died: Feb 10

He was admitted to TTSH on Feb 8 and was living in Toa Payoh Lorong 4. It was not an active dengue cluster.

7. Male, 47

Died: Jan 22

He is the youngest person to die of dengue this year. He was living in Marsiling Rise, which was an active 10-case dengue cluster.

Dengue myths and facts

Myth: Dengue affects the elderly more often than younger people aged 45 and below

"The risk of getting the disease is a function of the mosquito, and not the age. It really depends on who the mosquito bites. There is an equal chance for everyone, regardless of age, to contract dengue."

Fact: Dengue affects the elderly more severely than younger people aged 45 and below

"It is common for a young person to have dengue and not know about it, simply because he or she does not show the obvious symptoms.

"The reason more elderly people die of dengue is because their immune system is naturally weak.

"Also, the immune system has to deal with a whole range of other problems - high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease - which come with age.

"All these existing problems complicate the disease-fighting process in an elderly person and presents a great struggle for an already frail body."

Myth: Dengue affects only certain parts of Singapore, which are the hot spots.

"A person with dengue automatically becomes a mobile hot spot. It is true that if you live in an active dengue cluster, the chances of contracting dengue is higher.

"However, since Singapore is so small, dengue spreads very easily. Just one infected person can transform an area into an active dengue hot spot."

Myth: Mosquito repellant sprays or lotions will keep us safe

"Mosquito repellant helps in reducing mosquito bites and, in turn, the risk of contracting dengue. But many people forget that sweat can wash it off, in which case it becomes ineffective."

Fact: The Aedes aegypti mosquito bites people only in the day.

"Yes, it is a day biter, which is unlike the Anopheles mosquito, a night biter, which spreads malaria."

Myth: You cannot contract dengue twice in a lifetime.

"You can get infected up to four times. There are four strains and Dengue 1 and 2 are more prevalent in Singapore. Hence, patients usually contract it twice. It is only occasionally that one contracts it three times and, very rarely, four times in a lifetime."

"There is an equal chance for everyone, regardless of age, to contract dengue."